MediaSmarts provides guidance to teens for living in a connected world

OTTAWA, Nov. 5, 2015/CNW/ - MediaSmarts -- a Canadian centre for digital and media literacy -- today launched a new resource to help students transitioning onto high school navigate the digital dilemmas they may encounter in their online interactions and activities.

Your Connected Life: A Teen's Guide to Life Online offers teen-tested tips and solutions for everything from balancing screen time with school work, from managing relationships and reputation online, to using the Internet to find the best information on health, hobbies and homework.

"Digital media can add a layer of complexity and stress to the social and academic demands already placed on high school students," says Cathy Wing, Co-Executive Director of MediaSmarts. "Our goal with this guide was to look at the different online issues that kids entering high school might face and to support them – in a friendly way – in managing all the different aspects of their connected live."

The Your Connected Life guide was made possible with support from Shaw Communications and is available in English and French for free on the MediaSmarts website, mediasmarts.ca. Shaw has also committed an additional $75,000 to the development of a program to engage high school and post-secondary students.

"With the increased use and dependency of technology in our lives, it is important that we develop a platform to help children and youth learn to become responsible digital citizens," says Katherine Emberly, Vice President, Operations, Shaw Communications. "We are proud to be a part of Your Connected Life, to help youth navigate the complexities of this digital world."

About MediaSmartsMediaSmarts is a Canadian not-for-profit centre for digital and media literacy. Its vision is that young people have the critical thinking skills to engage with media as active and informed digital citizens. mediasmarts.ca, @mediasmarts